Vote Result

Yea Votes

Nay Votes

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that supplements appropriations to respective departments and agencies for fiscal year 2008-2009.

Highlights:

Supplements and rescinds appropriations for the Department of Defense (includes Department of Defense-Civil), totaling $80.93 billion in supplemental funding, including, but not limited to, the following (Titles III, IV & X):

$29.51 billion for operation and maintenance (includes rescissions of appropriations under prior defense appropriation Acts), including, but not limited to:

$534.4 million for payments to members of the Armed Forces who, at any time during the period of September 11, 2001 through September 30, 2009, served on active duty while the members' enlistment or period of obligated service was extended.

Appropriates $9.7 billion for the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, and other agencies for costs associated with international assistance, including, but not limited to, the following (Title XI):

$4.65 billion for bilateral economic assistance, including, but not limited to, $2.97 billion for the Economic Support Fund;

$2.18 billion for international security assistance, including, but not limited to, $1.29 billion for the Foreign Military Financing Program;

$1.94 billion for Diplomatic and Consular Programs; and

$721 million for international peacekeeping activities.

Appropriates $7.73 billion in supplemental funding for the Department of Health and Human Services, including, but not limited to, $7.65 billion for costs associated with preparation for and response to the influenza pandemic (Title VIII).

Appropriates $4.97 billion to increase the U.S. quota in the International Monetary Fund (Title XIV).

Appropriates $1 billion for the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program ("Cash for Clunkers"), of which $50 million is available for administration (Title XIII).

Prohibits funds from being used to transfer a prisoner detained at the Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to the U.S., unless the prisoner is being transferred for the purposes of prosecution or detainment during legal proceedings and the President has submitted a plan to Congress that includes the following (Sec. 14103):

Findings of an analysis regarding any risk to the national security of the U.S. that is posed by the transfer of the prisoner and a plan for the mitigation of such risk;

Costs associated with transferring the prisoner;

Legal rationale and associated court demands for transfer; and

Copy of a notification sent to the Governor of the State to which the individual will be transferred or, in the case of the District of Columbia, a copy of a notification sent to the the Mayor.

Prohibits funds from being used to establish permanent military bases in Iraq or Afghanistan or exercise U.S. control over the oil resources of Iraq (Secs. 314-315).

Requires the President to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees no later than the date of submission of the fiscal year 2010-2011 budget assessing the extent to which the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan are demonstrating the necessary commitment, capability, conduct and unity of purpose to warrant the continuation of the President's policy. The report must include the following (Sec. 1116):

Level of political consensus and unity of purpose across ethnic, tribal, religious and political party affiliations;

Level of government corruption;

Actions taken by security forces and appropriate government entities in developing a counterinsurgency capability;

Actions taken by intelligence agencies in cooperating with the U.S. on counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations;

Ability of the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan to effectively control and govern territory within their respective borders; and

Ways in which U.S. assistance has contributed, or failed to contribute, to achieving the stated goals.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress no later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act and every 90 days thereafter through September 30, 2010 on the current reduction and eventual withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq by August 31, 2010. The report must include the following (Sec. 316):

Troop draw down status and goals;

Month-by-month description of the transition of U.S. military forces and contractors out of Iraq;

How the Government of Iraq is assuming the responsibility for reconciliation initiatives;

How the draw down plan complies with the President's planned withdrawal of combat brigades; and